End of chapter II, here we depart

 That's all , good bye sister!

What is real? When I can feel things with my sense; I can see, feel the touch of it and even smell the thing. I don’t know the exact definition of reality, hence sometimes I suspect my reality because my mind has habit to play with me. It makes things so real for me that I get obliged to accept them though they don’t exist. But I really suspected twhether those things really don’t exist or my mind is showing me something.

I was desolated old palace. But curpets were new though there was abysmal silence. Only the sound ihear was of flow of water. I was in a hall with many door, all were same. I was puzzeled,

--- Where am I?

Suddenly, something passed by which chilled me to my bones. I was trying turn but I was freezed and I was terrified.

Then a boy appeared near the door in front of me. But he wasn’t looking at me as if I didn’t exist for him. He passed through the door and was gone. Something inside me told me that I should follow him. I gathered all my will to move my muscle and break through. I ran behind him. I keep running and running as if there is no end of that corridor. There wasn’t much light. Just few torches which was fixed on columns were burning with red flame.

Then suddenly I saw a shadow. I hid behind a column. I heard a voice of a boy or a kid. The voice was becoming louder and louder and then it turned into shouting,

--- Go away! If you want to escape, just break out and go away!

That voice had pain it, a deep pain. Then voice came down and he started panting.

I came out of darkens, closer and more closer to the boy.

But he wasn’t looking at me. He wasn’t looking at anything! He was lost in himself, panting. Then again that freexing familiar coldness wrapped me. All things became more vivid. There wasn’t much light yet I could see through that darkness.

I was standing there waiting for something! Something was around, not that boy, something very familiar, something very close to me.

I all on a sudden that boy rose and shouted with all his might,

--- Go away!

Then all things before me changed and it was a cell with iron bars. I saw a paw with furious sharp nails trying to come out and two bright eyes in that darkness of cell. Every feeling was so vivid , so real. Even that eyes were so familiar,

--- It can’t be!

I stepped back and a beast broke out of cell. It was that familiar black cat but it was bigger. It was looking at me and I could feel the warmth of his breath.

Then in few second a shrill shout was heard that echoed in that closed suffocating corridor and that cat pounced on me.

But it didn’t attacked me, it merged into me as if it wanted to come me. It wanted break out of his prison to merge with me. Before I discern how I got there i bunch of arrow was coming at me. I was frozen. Few of those penetrated my limbs but I couldn't feel any pain. Before I could figure out anything all things faded away in a blink of eye and I found myself on floor.

I rubbed my cheek and looked around.

At my right, on a bed Asha was sleeping, my dear sister.

Then I realized I was dreaming. It was my last night there. The next they would admit me in a orphan home.

I looked around, that room had been my room for many weeks and I had a sister there. I started as orphan and then I got Shahnu , then Asha. But ... I just smiled and said to myself,

--- Good night! Just one more day and after that my days would change again!

Dear sister

 Thank you for everything!

 Time and tide wait for none. After discharge from hospital Asha kept me in her home. She accepted me as her brother and was very kind to me. She was the only child of her parents, so having someone to talk with was a good feeling for her. I liked her as she used to take care of me and she could understand what I wanted to say but couldn’t like I am hungry, I am bored; I was a shy kid. In a few days she became very much familiar to me, but still I used to feel bad as I knew I was an unexpected addition to the picture. There family album didn’t have space for a boy, who came from no-where and started to enjoy a share of their resources. Asha didn’t think like that but I could see this on her parents’ face. The very sight of me started to annoy them. But they were tolerating me just for Asha. But I decided that I would leave, no matter what!

One day I was playing card with her.

--- Bull dog 300 pound

I turned my top-most card and submit it sadly,

--- Only 230 pound

--- Ha ha! Your champs are on dieting I guess!

She takes out next card and shouted on my face in joy,

--- Raaaaaaaank 2

Without even looking at my next card I succumb to her blow.

Suddenly, I felt there was pause for a moment. I curiously looked at cards.

Yes! It was great blow for me, heavy blow.

Asha shouted in joy,

--- 520 pound, the giant, yahooooooooo! It’s bad day for you!

I turned my next card. It was rank 5 with 6’7” height.

I started praying inside mind,

--- Not this one! Please! Rank or height or even matches but not weight!

Asha tabled her card,

--- Mask, matches 281. Aaahha!

I looked at my card and submitted it sadly.

Asha looked at it and then looked into my eyes.

I said,

--- Hogan, 302 matches!

--- Okay, okay, you got it!

--- My reign starts, now just pin-falls, one after one! Ha ha!

--- Let us see!

Suddenly, uncle interfere,

--- Asha, me and your mom needs to talk with you. We are in hall.

She turned to me and said,

--- No cheating! I will be back in few minutes.

Few minutes passed after that. I was surfing through my cards. I wasn’t left with many good cards.

I went near door of hall to get water from purifier. I could hear the conversation between Asha and her parents as things were heating up.

Uncle was trying to convince Asha,

--- Listen it’s not about money. A kid means responsibility. We two are in job, you need to take care of your study.

Asha replied,

--- But I didn’t feel any responsibility. Many girls have brother. I don’t think it affects their life.

Aunt interfered,

--- Own brother is different thing! We don’t even whether his name is real or not! Now days, we can’t guess anything of someone’s character.

--- Do you want to say …

Uncle stopped her,

--- Look! Your mom is right. Who knows! On one morning we would find some jewelry missing and Naga would be gone! Why take chances! Besides there is thousands of orphans living in there and they take good care.

--- The only thing which is pricking you is that Naga isn’t your blood!

Uncle replied,

--- Look! You are growing up and God has given us all. So, if he is from bad background someday his past would find him and we would be in trouble. Don’t you read newspaper!

--- We are talking about a kid!

--- It’s not about a kid, it’s about where he belongs and we are having unsafe feeling about it.

It did hurt me, but I was not crushed. I knew, sooner or later, that day would come. Beside I didn’t have much packing to do, in fact I have nothing to pack. So, I just went back to table and start pretending nothing happened.

Few minutes later, Asha came. Her head was down and she was not looking at me.

I said,

 

--- My turn! I would finish the game.

And I knew, it was the last game with her and I enjoyed it.

Thanks for everything, big sister.

 Am I dreaming!

     I remember my dreams, not all. But I lived many dreams, as if it was another world for me. Sometimes I even wished to stay there but I awoke and forgot. I woke up to reality that confused me more, that seemed stranger than dreams to me. So, I never asked myself, “Am I dreaming?”, because reality wasn’t like real to me.

I woke up. My head was feeling heavy. I tried to move which inflicted a good pain to my limbs. I quit, sink in softness of bed. I looked around and realized I was probably in hospital as two more patients were on my right. I tried to think and my head hurt. Suddenly, a moment flashed in my mind and I uttered,

---Shahnu, station! What the hell!

Then I regain my composure and realized, someone had taken me to hospital. I sign of relief left me.

--- How you doing?

I suddenly heard a girl voice from my left. I looked and find a girl standing there. She was taller than me and older too, but a teenager. She had long black hair. She asked again,

--- How you doing?

I was little confused and scratched my head. I found that my head was covered with bandage.

She asked,

--- Does it hurt? You was hit hard on your head. Thank God, my family was there.

Then I asked or I should say mumbled,

--- Whaaat haapeneed.

--- Well, I think you should take rest. When did you wake up?

--- Just now!

--- You were unconscious for three day! How you doing!

I removed the bed sheet over my body and stared at my body. It was wearing a white dress. My hands right hand was wrapped up in bandage.

Then she offered me chocolates and asked,

--- What is your name?

I looked at her eyes. It was calm, just like Shahnu but it was deeper and darker. She had soothing smile on her face.

She asked again with more curiosity on face,

--- What is your name?

I replied,

--- Naga.

Then she asked,

--- What was you doing in station? Was your family with you? There do you live?

Fate had brought me to a familiar situation. But I stayed calm and replied,

--- I have no family. I was with a friend there,

--- Where is your friend now?

--- Gone!

--- Gone? I don’t get you!

--- I was there to bid him good bye.

--- He must have told you where he was going!

--- He was in a hurry, I guess.

Then I again sank in bed and closed my eyes.

I knew she had saved my life but I didn’t have the joy to be alive. I didn’t even have that cold feeling in me. All that I had what emptiness and a question,

--- Why?

Puppet must put to rest

A puppet

Sometimes life wants to say something to us. Life that bears gay and sorrow and then it sometimes give us beckon that a change is near. But we don’t catch it or ignore it. There would be no bolt from blue for you if you understand the beckon of time, beckon that whisper in your ears about the changes.

Trees were wet in shower of soothing spell. Wet soil had gathered enough for moisture. I and Shahnu were playing inside the train engine.

Shahnu shouted,

--- Everyone aboard, next station 100 km away. Helper, start feeding the giant!

I was hungry and the word ‘feeding’ fueled by appetite.

I said to Shahnu,

--- Can we go back, I am hungry!

Shahnu gave me weird look,

--- Go back, common!

I emphasized my word,

--- I am hungry!

Shahnu took a long breath and released and said,

--- Okay, train delayed for three hours.

Then he looked into my eyes and paused as if he was watching something in my eyes.

I jerked him and said,

--- Lets go!

He said in low voice,

--- I have some coins. He can get something from nearby station.

Then he pointed to a tunnel and said,

--- On the other side of it, there is a station.

Then again a took a long breath and said in discouraging tone,

--- Lets go!

--- Are you okay, Shahnu?

He jerked off as if he was sleeping and replied,

--- What! Yes, okay… I’m okay. Lets go!

We started and within few minutes entered the tunnel.

It was quite hot over there. Tunnel was just few miter long, hence only the middle part of tunnel was dark. I called Shahnu and it echoed inside the tunnel. It was fun so I tried a little bit of shouting, though my effort didn’t inspire Shahnu.

Shahnu was walking ahead of me. In the end of tunnel Shahnu turned to me and said,

--- Here we are!

--- Where!

It was a small station, Dharakul with just two platforms. Thickness of crowd was evident that it wasn’t a busy station either.

Shahnu told me,

--- Once train used to go through this tunnel and this station was a busy one. Since the shutdown of wagon shed this station has lost importance and this tunnel is not used any more. Let’s go! We will find some shop on station for food.

We went on the platform. We bought bread and some bananas.

Out of curiosity I asked Shahnu,

--- How did you get the money? I hardy find some small work to earn something!

--- Hmm! That is my secret!

It fueled my anxiety and I started pushing him for the truth,

--- I am your best friend and I can keep secret.

--- I can manage enough for both of us. Why you bother?

--- Common, Shahnu!

--- Ya keep pleading, the king is happy! Ha ha ha !

--- Tell me, where did you find work?

Shahnu paused and looked to me and smiled,

--- Naga, it doesn’t matter for you anymore!

I was feeling little annoyed. I shouted,

--- Fine!

And I turn my back to Shahnu and keep eating my bread.

Few minutes later Shahnu put his hand on shoulder and gently said,

--- Naga, take care!

I turned back and about to say something, suddenly a announcement on loudspeaker was made for some train which suppressed my voice.

Shahnu then started,

--- I enjoyed my moments but the puppet show is over. Puppets must put to rest.

--- What are talking about?

I was confused.

He smiled and said,

--- Happy journey!

Suddenly, I heard some shout. I turned back and saw crowd of few people was shouting at me. Before I could figure out what they were saying, a shrilling sound of siren drew my attention and I found that I was standing very near the edge of platform. I hurried to get at safe distance and almost succeeded. Before I could feel that I escaped an accident train hit a piece of brick of the edge of platform and it flew towards me. As soon as it hit me everything was black then I saw Shahnu as if he was in my mind. I fell and all got vague. A crowd ran towards me to save me. I closed my eyes and heard for Shahnu for the last time,

--- Puppet must put to rest. Carry on, friend! Good bye!

I fainted due to bleeding but I didn’t have pain; I wasn’t afraid as if there was nothing just oblivion. In that oblivion a sound of humming make me sleep like a little baby. I was in peace, for the first time in my long life.